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Cincinnati Reds’ Offense Finds Stride, Downs San Francisco Giants 8-3

June 4th, 2014 at 11:17 AM By Cody Dalga

Just when fans thought the offense was at its lowest, the Cincinnati Reds somehow got it jump started when they took the final three games of the series in Arizona. They kept rolling Tuesday evening, thanks in part to the bats of Devin Mesoraco and Brandon Phillips, and took down the San Francisco Giants by a score of 8-3 at Great American Ballpark.

"I feel like the path we're on, everybody is coming together," said Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton. "We're starting to get everything going. I've said if we can get everybody healthy, I feel like we're going to do some great things."

The Giants, who came into the game with the best record in baseball, managed just five hits off of Cincinnati starter Homer Bailey who pitched six innings allowing just three runs and striking out seven.

"It was a big team win for us. These guys came in really hot," Bailey said. "They've got a great record. For us to win four straight was big. The offense kept it up the whole entire game. They definitely gave me a lot of support early."

Although he allowed a first inning solo home run to Hunter Pence, the offense was able to give him a lead in the bottom half of the inning. Hamilton doubled to lead off the game and scored when Tim Lincecum, who had Hamilton picked off at second, threw the ball into center field allowed him to score easily.

"When you have speed, it makes people do that," Hamilton said. "I knew if I could do one move and make him get the ball out of his hands, it'd be good. He ended up making a bad throw. That's what speed does. I'm glad God gave me the talent to have speed. It's fun being fast."

Todd Frazier then walked and advanced to second on a groundout. Jay Bruce then doubled to right allowing Frazier to cross the plate. The RBI was Bruce's 500th career run batted in. The scoring didn't stop there, the next batter was Mesoraco and he launched his ninth homerun of his short season.

San Francisco was able to score runs in three consecutive innings but still trailed 4-3 after three. Bailey settled down and didn't allow another run for the rest of his outing.

The offense provided another four run inning in the bottom half of the fifth. Hamilton singled to lead off the inning and stole his 22nd base of the year, and advancing to third on a throwing error. After Frazier walked, Phillips doubled down the line to plate two runs. After a stolen base by Phillips, Bruce singled to bring him home. Bruce later scored on a fielder's choice by Brayan Pena to make it 8-3, the eventual final.

"It's just great to see," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "The Pence homer to get things going for the Giants in the top of the first, and then to come back with our own inning was just absolutely huge for us and to give Homer some breathing room. Give the Giants credit for coming back and really putting the heat on us until we were able to create that separation with that second four-run inning. But yeah, that was really good to see some productive at-bats, guys taking advantage of some elevation pitches, and two four-run innings usually win you a ballgame."

The Reds and Giants will be back in action tonight as Tony Cingrani and Ryan Vogelsong will be on the mound.